CRASHCOURSE INSCIENCE ©Michael Zodorozny The question “What band influenced techno music using toy instruments?” has one only answer: Crash Course in Science.The minimal synth act, coming from Philadelphia, built their own synths to sound different and at the same time futurist. It’s possible that you listened to their “Cardboard Lamb” thinking that it was the last electroclash hit without knowing that it was recorded in 1981. They are playing this Sunday at Ombra Festival and it will be another of the gigs that you should not miss. Crash Course in Science were known for making music with toy instruments. Is it what you had at hand or did you want to sound different? In the early days of the band the toy instruments were used more or less out of necessity.First of all, thank you for reaching out to do an interview. In the beginning we had a real drum set, a guitar and a toy keyboard that eventually was altered to make additional sounds. We focused on sounds that helped depict a created world. Coming fromArt School, do you think that it changed your approach to music? Youwere alreadymaking experiments with tape recorders and toy instruments there, right? www.peek-a-boo-magazine.be - 16 - Coming from an art school background definitely influenced our approach to music. The cinematic aspect and mood of art lends itself to a musical exploration. Michael created early recordings using very crude instruments dating back to when he was teenager using multiple cassette players, acoustic guitar, sirens, broken toy piano and a toy drum set among other things. According to you, why is there currently an interest in classic minimal bands? The style is rich in content and experimentation. There is an attraction to the era, to the sound and outlook of classic minimal wave.The genre has staying power. Being from Philadelphia and being interested in funk, (“Dance to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone has been named as favorite album) were you interested in Philly sound? Or was it just a reliefwhen newwave/punk emerged? We love howPhilly soul and how it laid the groundwork for disco.We were in art school in Philadelphia during part of that period, so the music was all around us. Around the same time The Ramones first album was released which
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